Federal Criminal Defense Blog

When certain criminal defense cases hit news, all eyes are drawn to the defendant. It’s often the case that news reports can cast individuals as guilty even before they’ve gone on trial. Despite this perception, everyone who is accused of a crime is entitled to presumed innocence when a trial begins, no matter how much…

Cell phones, potential drug crimes charges and law enforcement – these three things have been all over the news in the past few months. This past week, a New York Times article revealed that the government has been paying AT&T, through a partnership known as the Hemisphere Project, for a mass amount of phone records…

A wide variety of factors can influence the outcome of a sex crimes case. However, a verdict may come down to which party presented the most convincing evidence and testimony. Throughout the course of a criminal trial, witnesses who can offer specific insight are often called to testify in order to sway a jury. These…

When a person is brought to court on criminal charges, the burden of proof is on the prosecution. In order to reach a conviction, prosecutors must demonstrate a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Put simply, a person is considered innocent until proven otherwise. Of course, law enforcement official may push criminal charges and launch…

Criminal Defense – If you have had no prior convictions, the court at the state level can sentence you under the First Offender Act. Certain violent crimes, serious sex crime offenses and DUI charges are exempted from this Act and you cannot get First Offender treatment for those offenses. But, if you are sentenced as…

Defending a drug crimes case may finally get easier. Attorney General Eric Holder made an announcement yesterday at the American Bar Association annual meeting that federal prosecutors will stop seeking longer mandatory sentences for many non violent drug offenders. This, allegedly, is part of a new effort to focus on violent crimes and national security.…

Our criminal defense attorneys at Conaway & Strickler, PC know how to help you avoid being arrested or convicted for Firearm Offenses. The Second Amendment under the Bill of Rights under the United States Constitution states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Recent case law and…

The State of Georgia has passed legislation, effective May 6, 2013 , that makes it illegal to charge a fee to remove booking photographs of exonerated people from websites. Please see http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/display/20132014/HB/150 I can’t tell you how many clients have called me and said that prospective employers saw their mugshot on line and declined to…

I hear this question often. The problem is that once you are charged with some sort of domestic violence charge, you are now facing charges from the State, not the alleged victim. As a result, your spouse cannot simply “drop the charges” and the case will go away. Even if your spouse chooses not to…

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 26,2013 in Florida v. Jardines (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-564_5426.pdf ) that the use of a drug-sniffing dog to investigate the front door of a home was a “search” within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Thankfully, the Supreme Court ruled this way – or we’d have police trolling apartment complexes, buildings,…